The Best Ear Plugs For Surfing
It is important that surfers and others who go in the sea to swim or windsurf wear ear plugs. This is to protect themselves from surfer's ear. This is an acquired condition. The ear responds to the cooling effect of wind and water by making bony spurs around the outside of the ear canal. The cooling affects the outer ear and mastoid bone behind the ear. Many surfers know that they need to protect the ears with ear plugs. Unfortunately very few know that they also need to protect the mastoid bones also. These are the bony lumps behind your ears.
Luckily these can be easily protected by wearing a surfer's neoprene cap. Without protection the majority of those who have been surfing for 10 years or more will have some degree of surfer's ear. They may not be aware that they have the condition. Deafness is often the first symptoms noticed but it does not occur until the narrowing reaches 90%.
The medical name for these are cranial exostoses. The outgrowths gradually close over the ear canal, causing reduced hearing when the narrowing reaches 90%. The sufferer is also more prone to ear infections due to reduced clearance of water and debris. The condition is treatable by chiselling or drilling the ear canal, reopening it. Unfortunately this doesn't prevent the condition recurring. Those who don't take preventative measures may go on to having their ears reamed more than once.
Molded surfing ear plugs are the best type of ear plugs to prevent surfer's ear. They are individually molded to your ear and so are comfortable and highly effective at keeping water out of your ears. ZenPlugs are even antibacterial, actively destroying all the bacteria known to cause ear infections. Protect yourself from surfer's ear for years to come with a pair of ZenPlugs Molded Surfing Ear Plugs.
